Funds go toward match for $147M state-of-the-art facility
MURFREESBORO — Middle
Tennessee State University’s new science building has received a significant
boost with a $1.5 million grant from the Christy-Houston Foundation, the
university announced this week.
The grant goes
toward the $147 million state-of-the-art science facility, which is on schedule
to open for classes in spring 2015. Construction began last year after
the General Assembly approved $126.7 million toward the long-awaited project.
Bob Mifflin,
president of the Christy-Houston Foundation, said the award reflects the
nonprofit foundation’s mission “to enhance the quality of life in
Rutherford County with an emphasis on health care.”
“It’s the most important building I think that has ever been
built on that campus. We understand that nearly every student that attends MTSU
will go through the science building,” Mifflin said. “The science building is
going to be involved with nursing students, with pre-med students, physical and
occupational therapy students and others. All of that is very much health
related.”
The university
estimates that 80 percent of MTSU students will take a class in the science
building, which will replace the existing Wiser-Patten Science Hall and
Davis Science Building built in 1932 and 1967 respectively. Those buildings have
a combined total of only 75,332 net square feet for classrooms, labs and
offices, meaning the new building will more than triple the amount of available
space.
“We’re
extremely pleased to have this latest investment from the Christy-Houston Foundation
in our science building,” said MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee. “These dollars
are going to help ensure that our building is completed in a timely fashion and
that our students have all of the resources they need to be successful.”
The foundation was founded in 1986 following the sale of
the Rutherford Hospital. With the
science building grant, Mifflin said the foundation has contributed more than
$8 million to MTSU over the years for projects such as the Cason-Kennedy
Nursing Building, the Center for Dyslexia, Student Health Services,
Project Help, as well as nursing-related scholarships.
“The Christy-Houston Foundation thinks there is no organization
or business more important to Rutherford County than MTSU,” Mifflin said.
Joe Bales, vice president for university advancement at
MTSU, applauded the foundation for being “a tremendous supporter” of university programs over the years.
“This latest
investment was crucial in that it gives us much-needed matching funds that the
state now requires,” Bales said. “We’ve had a long partnership with the
foundation, which has provided valuable resources that have helped us in so
many ways.”
The science building will result in
approximately 257,000 gross square feet for biology and chemistry, 37
class labs, two open labs, 13 research labs, six classrooms, faculty offices,
numerous informal learning areas, and space for student presentations.
Turner Construction Co. is scheduled to substantially complete
the project by the summer of 2014, with equipment installations and
administrative move-in planned for the fall of 2014. The building should be
ready for classes for the 2015 spring semester.
Approximately 1,500 new student workstations will be provided
in the labs and classrooms in the new building, which is being built on the
south side of campus adjacent to the James E. Walker Library. The U-shaped
building features an abundance of glass windows on the interior shell to take
advantage of natural light and includes a layered designed that will keep
faculty offices close to student labs and work areas.
Following a meeting between university officials and the
foundation’s request committee, the foundation’s board of directors unanimously
approved the grant.
“It’s a grant that will give and give and give,” Mifflin
said, adding that the facility’s impact will not only benefit MTSU and the
Midstate, but the entire state of Tennessee. “It’s going to benefit everyone.
We’re very proud to be a part of that.”
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